Composite index and min() - Mailing list pgsql-hackers

From James Sewell
Subject Composite index and min()
Date
Msg-id CANkGpBuBSuR6X0=j4zPz=4XZQqHD_MPLx+pTQuGKm19Akhadrg@mail.gmail.com
Whole thread Raw
Responses Re: Composite index and min()  (Jim Nasby <Jim.Nasby@BlueTreble.com>)
List pgsql-hackers
Hello,

I have the following table:

 \d a
         Table "phxconfig.a"
    Column     |  Type   | Modifiers
---------------+---------+-----------
 phx_run_id    | integer |
 cell_id       | integer |
Indexes:
    "a_phx_run_id_cell_id_idx" btree (phx_run_id, cell_id)

When I use a min() query I get the following plans:

test=# explain select min(phx_run_id) from a;
                                              QUERY PLAN
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Result  (cost=0.22..0.23 rows=1 width=0)
   InitPlan 1 (returns $0)
     ->  Limit  (cost=0.14..0.22 rows=1 width=4)
           ->  Index Only Scan using a_phx_run_id_cell_id_idx on a  (cost=0.14..7.89 rows=100 width=4)
                 Index Cond: (phx_run_id IS NOT NULL)

test=# explain select min(cell_id) from a;
                       QUERY PLAN
---------------------------------------------------------
 Aggregate  (cost=2.25..2.26 rows=1 width=4)
   ->  Seq Scan on a  (cost=0.00..2.00 rows=100 width=4)

Can anyone comment on why this happens? 

The index  kicks in when I do an explicit cell_id comparison. These are large tables, and they are in a partition layout so it really hurts when I do the min call on the parent table.

Cheers,

James Sewell,
PostgreSQL Team Lead / Solutions Architect
______________________________________
 

Level 2, 50 Queen St, Melbourne VIC 3000

(+61) 3 8370 8000  W www.lisasoft.com  (+61) 3 8370 8099
 


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